USB 3.0 peripherals are expected to start appearing this year. USB 3's theoretical maximum transfer rate is 4.8Gb/sec; we know that it won't reach that in practice, but it will still be many times faster than USB 2.0. More details here.

So what do you think that this will mean for the next generation of Macs?

The end of FireWire?

The early demise of the internal SSD as people simply plug a 64GB USB 3.0 pendrive into the back of their machines?

Redundant DVI and DisplayPort sockets after the release of USB 3.0 display screens?

Knowing Apple they will build a special proprietary USB3 connection into all their products so that we will have to buy a stupid adapter. _________________MacMini 2.0GHz C2D (2009)
MacMini 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Dell Mini 10v *OSX 10.6.4*

So what do you think that this will mean for the next generation of Macs?

The early demise of the internal SSD as people simply plug a 64GB USB 3.0 pendrive into the back of their machines?

...

Better not be; I just plucked down $160 (after rebate) for a 60gb SSD.

What do you figure, your SSD is suddenly going to stop working the day they release USB 3.0?
I guess not!_________________"I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a man nailed to two pieces of wood"
-George Carlin

So what do you think that this will mean for the next generation of Macs?

The end of FireWire?

The early demise of the internal SSD as people simply plug a 64GB USB 3.0 pendrive into the back of their machines?

Redundant DVI and DisplayPort sockets after the release of USB 3.0 display screens?

Well if USB 3.0 does as its previous generation it'll be slower in comparison to FireWire 3200 for sustained transfer, also firewire will always have daisy chain.

USB 3.0 doesn't stand a chance at replacing video connectors as it is simply compressing the data channels too much to give ideal picture, dedicated video connectors will beat out any broad peripheral connector for quality.

Also, a USB 3.0 flash drive WILL NOT beat the internal SSD as internal connectors for SATA are up to 6 Gbps, already surpassing USB 3.0, the difference will be memory speed and an SSD will be far cheaper for the same speed and capacity as there is less space restraint._________________"You must control your future by taking command of your present, and fixing and learning from your past."

Better not be; I just plucked down $160 (after rebate) for a 60gb SSD.

That made me laugh!

dungeon92 wrote:

Well if USB 3.0 does as its previous generation it'll be slower in comparison to FireWire 3200 for sustained transfer, also firewire will always have daisy chain.

True D92, but who's got FW3200 on their Mac? And how likely are we to get FW3200 on our Macs when Apple have decided to drop FW entirely on the latest MacBooks? Is this the shape of things to come?

dungeon92 wrote:

USB 3.0 doesn't stand a chance at replacing video connectors as it is simply compressing the data channels too much to give ideal picture, dedicated video connectors will beat out any broad peripheral connector for quality.

I wasn't too sure, so I did some simple mathematics....

1,920 pixels x 1,200 pixels = 2,304,000 pixels

Each pixel needs 32 bits colour depth, so the number of bits needed to describe the colour of all of the pixels on the screen is...

2,304,000 pixels x 32 bits = 73,728,000 bits

Finally, for a refresh rate of 60Hz, we need to update this number of bits 60 times per second....

Also, a USB 3.0 flash drive WILL NOT beat the internal SSD as internal connectors for SATA are up to 6 Gbps, already surpassing USB 3.0, the difference will be memory speed and an SSD will be far cheaper for the same speed and capacity as there is less space restraint.

I wasn't trying to say that USB 3.0 pendrives will 'beat' internal SSDs; I was trying to say that someone who has a machine with an internal mechanical HDD will shortly have an alternative to replacing it with an internal SSD: a USB 3.0 pendrive.

In other words, if the pendrive offers a dramatic increase in performance over their mechanical HDD, but without the hassle of hardware replacement, which will they choose?_________________Intel Mini 2.0GHz C2D (4GB/120GB/SuperDrive/10.5.8 ), 120GB WD Passport, Logitech ergo k/b
iPod Touch (32GB, 3rd gen), iPod Shuffle (512MB, 1st gen)

Well if USB 3.0 does as its previous generation it'll be slower in comparison to FireWire 3200 for sustained transfer, also firewire will always have daisy chain.

True D92, but who's got FW3200 on their Mac? And how likely are we to get FW3200 on our Macs when Apple have decided to drop FW entirely on the latest MacBooks? Is this the shape of things to come?

dungeon92 wrote:

USB 3.0 doesn't stand a chance at replacing video connectors as it is simply compressing the data channels too much to give ideal picture, dedicated video connectors will beat out any broad peripheral connector for quality.

I wasn't too sure, so I did some simple mathematics....

1,920 pixels x 1,200 pixels = 2,304,000 pixels

Each pixel needs 32 bits colour depth, so the number of bits needed to describe the colour of all of the pixels on the screen is...

2,304,000 pixels x 32 bits = 73,728,000 bits

Finally, for a refresh rate of 60Hz, we need to update this number of bits 60 times per second....

Also, a USB 3.0 flash drive WILL NOT beat the internal SSD as internal connectors for SATA are up to 6 Gbps, already surpassing USB 3.0, the difference will be memory speed and an SSD will be far cheaper for the same speed and capacity as there is less space restraint.

I wasn't trying to say that USB 3.0 pendrives will 'beat' internal SSDs; I was trying to say that someone who has a machine with an internal mechanical HDD will shortly have an alternative to replacing it with an internal SSD: a USB 3.0 pendrive.

In other words, if the pendrive offers a dramatic increase in performance over their mechanical HDD, but without the hassle of hardware replacement, which will they choose?

True on the Apple dropping FW, I believe it'll exist as a Pro option and maybe desktop option though as a lot of Pro applications make use of FW and desktops (only the Mac mini would be in this class) might drop it, but not very likely to me.

As for video connection, USB 3.0 isn't specialized for video and it compresses the data channels so for mainstream market, maybe, but those who know their tech, probably not when better dedicated video connectors exist.

As for a fast pendrive, well this get's into the debate of do you really trust flash memory with important data? I will use mechanical drives as long as possible myself as they never really die, they just need a bit of care to work in their final moments ._________________"You must control your future by taking command of your present, and fixing and learning from your past."